title: Elevated Activin A urine levels are predictors of intraventricular haemorrhage in preterm newborns.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Intraventricular haemorrhage (IVH) is the most common variety of cerebral haemorrhage and cause of neurological disabilities in preterm newborns. We evaluated the usefulness of urine Activin A concentrations for the early detection of perinatal IVH.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a case-control study on 100 preterm newborns (20 with IVH and 80 without IVH) in whom urine Activin A was measured at five predetermined time-points in the first 72 h after birth. IVH diagnosis and the extension of the lesion were performed by ultrasound scanning within the first 72 h and at 1 week after birth, respectively.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urine Activin A in infants who developed IVH was significantly higher than in controls at all monitoring time-points (p < 0.01 for all), increasing progressively from first urination to 24 h when it reached the highest peak (p < 0.001). At a cut-off 0.08 ng/L, at the first void, Activin A sensitivity and specificity were 68.7% (CI: 41.3-89%) and 84.5% (CI: 75-91.5%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Activin A measurements in urine soon after birth can constitute a promising tool for identifying preterm infants at risk of IVH.
authors.affiliation: Department of Critical Care and Perinatal Medicine, G. Gaslini Children's Hospital, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Sannia
authors.forename: Luc J I
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Zimmermann
authors.forename: Antonio W D
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Gavilanes
authors.forename: Hans J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Vles
authors.forename: Maria Grazia
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Calevo
authors.forename: Pasquale
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Florio
authors.forename: Diego
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gazzolo
mesh_terms: D028341:Activins / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002543:Cerebral Hemorrhage / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000652:urine; D003661:Decision Support Techniques; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007235:Infant, Premature, Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000652:urine; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; C422405:activin A; D028341:Activins
keywords: Activin A; Biomarkers; Brain damage; IVH; Prematurity